Method of producing felt base floor coverings



July 12, 1938. N. L. CAMPBELL METHOD OF PRODUCING FELT BASE FLOORCOVERINGS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1938- July 12, 1938. N. 1.. CMPBELL 2,123 6 6 METHOD OF PRODUCING FELT BASE FLOOR CO VERINGS FiledApril 26, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 VII/11111111111111 w r N 7 J? g 6 J6 I2-. MA minim I I w 6 July 12, 1938. N. 1.. CAMPBELL METHOD OF PRODUCINGFELT BASE FLOOR COVERINGS Filed April 26, 1938 e Sheets-Sheet 3 July 12,1938. N. CAMPBELL 2,123,646

METHOD OF PRODUCING FELT BASE FLOOR COVERINGS Filed April 26, 1938 6Sheets-Sheet 4 a II A 1177;.

' Z' ML? y wiwzgs July 12, 1938. N. CAMPBELL METHOD OF PRODUCING FELTBASE FLOOR COVERINGS Filed April 26, 1938 6 fl t s t 5 w v y 3 d2 7 .55x 9 .9 .ifj' 2? v Z4 x I1I?71/11/111III/1111111111111Ill/11111111117550w "IIIII/l 7 I i ;7 I 2 l g i 1 'llllllllllllllll'mllllllmllll July 12,1938. N. L.AMPBELL 2,123 6 6 METHob OF PRODUCING FELT BASE FLOORcovmaxnes Patented July 12, 1938 METHOD OF PRODUCING FELT BASE FLOORCOVERINGS- Neil L. Campbell, Salem, N. J., assignor to Mannington Mills,Incorporated, Salem, N. J., a

corporation of New Jersey Application April 26, 1938, Serial No. 204,44514 Claims. (Cl. 41-26) small percentage of wood fibers matted togetherby a regular felting process and subsequently impregnated with asphaltand other ingredients rendering the felt substantially waterproof.

In some instances one face of the impregnated felt sheet is coated witha suitable paint, usually of a solid color, to form the underside of thefinished floor covering. In other instances the underside of the sheetis coated with rubber or a rubber compound but which, in either case,does not enter into the present invention.

The second face of the felt base sheet which is to form the top, wear,or exposed surface in use is usually decorated with designs of variouscharacters, including mottled designs, floral and/or foliage designs,blocks, tiles, etc.

The decoration-of the top or wear surface is usually in the form of anaggregated coating of viscous pigments arranged in laterally adjacentabutting relationto each other and collectively depicting the design.The aggregating of the design elements is usually accomplished on whatis known as a block printing machine, i. e. the impregnated base sheetor strip is intermittently advanced in a horizontal plane beneath aseries of verticallyhreciprocable printing heads which are respectivelyprovided on their under surfaces with wood cut blocks or flat faced pinsor protuberances. Each head carries but one part of the design which istobe applied to the wear surface of the impregnated felt. The number ofblocks used in completing the design depends upon the number ofdifferent colors found in the completed design, as each blockis arrangedto deposit but one color in proper .position on the prepared felt basesheet as the sheet is advanced s ep by step and brought to rest underthe print-. ing blocks successively. During the period of rest a paintreservoir, provided with an applying roll, is traversed beneath eachblock, withrthe roller. incontact with the 50' wood cut or pin faces toapply a predetermined amount of the viscouspigment to the printingsurface of the block, there being one reservoir for each block to applythe particular color required for the particular part of thedesigncarried by 55 the block.

REIS SUE raised and the felt advanced one step, to bring each partlycompleted design into registry with the next block to receive theportion of the design depicted by that particularblock.

After a predetermined length of the strip of felt emerges from the lastprinting blockthe strip is cut and the finished sheet of saidpredetermined length, usually a strip of approximately 80 feet inlength, is carried into a suitable dryer in which the pigments arepermitted to set and/or harden.

The object of the present invention is to produce two identical stripsfrom or by but one printing of the complete design and thereby doublethe capacity of the machine. This object is attained by printing thedesign on but one strip in the manner above noted, with the coating thusaggregatively produced being of a predetermined thickness, andsubsequently transferring a portion of the thickness of the coating andthe design depicted thereby in toto from the one printed strip to asecond strip, for example, by superimposing the second strip upon theprinted face of the first strip and subsequently separating the twostrips,

whereby the coating which has been applied to the first strip by theseries of printing heads or blocks is split in a median plane-betweenthe two strips and divided substantially equally between the two strips,thereby producing two identical finished products i. e. two productsfinished, at least insofar as the printing or formation of the design onthe two strips is concerned, it being understood that after the printingand drying of the aggregated design coating of .a felt base floorcovering the printed strip is sometimes given a finished coat oftransparent varnish, lacquer,

or the equivalent .to preserve the design surface hereinafter, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. la. and Fig. 1b,combined, constitute 9. diagrammatic longitudinal sectional elevation ofthe printing machine and dryer arranged in tandem;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic plan views of the arrangement shown inFigs. 1a and 1b, with the dryer in section;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating thetransfer of the pattern from the originally printed sheet to theinverted second sheet and the reversing of the second. sheet to bringthe design bearing face uppermost;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 6-6, Fig.5;

Fig. 7'is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of one mechanismfor transferring the printed design from the originally printed sheet tothe second sheet;

Figs. 8., 9 and 10 are enlarged longitudinal sectional views of the twosheets illustrating the manner of transferring the design from theoriginal to the second sheet by flat, pressed contact, as in Figs. 1band 7;

Fig. 11 illustrates a modification of the invention wherein the transferis made by continuous rotary contact;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing an intermittentrotary transfer of the pattern from the originally printed sheet to thesecond sheet;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 and shows a modification of theintermittent rotary transfer;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig: 5, and shows the intermittent rotarytransfer of Fig. 12 and-a modified form of sheet reversing mechanism inconnection therewith;

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation taken on the line i5-l5, Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1b and illustrates amodified arrangement for handling the second sheet between the transferand the placing of the sheet in the drying oven;

17 illustrates a preliminary step in'the handling of the second sheet,as shown in Fig. 16, or a modification thereof;

Fig. 18 is a modification of the invention illustrating the use of anintermediate transfer'element between theoriginally printed sheet andthe second sheet; and

Fig. 19 is a detail view showing one method and means for synchronizingthe movements of the mally in the printing of felt base floorcoverings,-

and consists primarily of a long substantially rigid main frame I whichis mounted on flanged wheels or rollers 2 arranged to ride on rails 3.The rails 3 extend transversely of the machine at relatively spacedpoints along the length of the machine. The frame I supports a rigidlongitudinally extending and horizontally disposed platform 4. At eachof the opposite sides of the platform 4 isan endless belt 5 which isprovided with pins 6 at relatively spaced points throughout its length.The pins 6 are adapted to pierce the strip of felt x, which is disposedon the -'platform 4, adjacent the opposite marginal edges solely of thestrip in. The belts 5 pass around drums or sprockets l6 which areintermittently rotatedto a predetermined extent for correspondinglyadvancing the sheet or strip .t step by step,

beneath a series of vertically reciprocable printing blocks I, I. Alsovertically reciprocable with the printing blocks I, I is a press block 8which presses the side edges of the sheet or strip :c down onto the pins6 of the belts 5.

The means for intermittently rotating the sprockets or drums I6, and-forvertically reciprocating the blocks I and 8 in definite time relation tothe movements of the sheet 2:, forms no part of the present inventionand as such mechanism is a standard part of the block printing machinethe same has been eliminated from the present drawings for the sake ofsimplicity.

Likewise, the paint pots 9 which are .provided with rollers III formaking contact with the printing surfaces II of the printing blocks I,and which, for the purpose of making-such contact, to apply the pigmentto the printing surfaces llof the blocks I, are reciprocatedlongitudinally of the machine, beneath the printing blocks I, when saidprinting blocks are in a raised position is effected in synchronizationwith the movements of the sheet, the belts 5 and the printing blocks Iby mechanism standard to the machine, and which, therefore, has beeneliminated from the present drawings.

Normally, the strip a: is received in the form of a roll :tl which, asshown in Fig. la, is mounted on a suitable rack I2. The strip :c'isthreaded over and under rollers 13, i4 and I5 to and around a drum I1and from said drum over rollers l8 and I9 to and around a roller 20disposed adjacent the feed end 2| of the platform or table 4 which formsthe backing up platen for the printing operation.

From the roller 20 the strip :cis fed under the press block 8 and ispressed onto the pins 6 of the belts 5 thereby. The belts: 5, as notedabove,

move the strip it intermittently along the printing table 4, to thedelivery end 22 of said table (see Fig. 117) from which the strip .1:passes over a cutting table 23, which is provided with a transverselyreciprocating knife 24 by which a printed strip is .severed intocompleted sheets of predetermined length, preparatory to or duringintroduction of a leading end of such sheet into and through the dryingoven.

The drying oven 3 is stationary, and, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4,comprises a plurality of individual compartments 25a, 25b-and 25c.'

In order to align the printing table I of the printing machine A and thecutting table 23 with any one of the plurality of compartments of thedrying oven B, the machine A is bodily moved transversely, by means .ofthe rollers 2 and rails 3, into the desired podtionand the cutting table23, being provided with suitable supporting rollers 26, and if desired,rigidly connected to the frame I of the printing machine as at 21, Fig.1b, is moved with the printing machine A into line with the compartmentof thedrying oven B'which is to be loaded with strips or sheets a: afterthe printing thereof by the block printing machine.

In carrying out the present invention, the rack I 2, on which aplurality of the rolls :rl may be mounted, is extended vertically toprovide an upper deck I2a for the reception of a plurality of rolls yito provide the second strip or sheet 1! to which the printed pattern isto be transferred from the originally printed strip or sheet 2:, aftercompleting of the printing of the design on the sheet at.

The-sheet y is led from the roll yl under the rolls l4, l4 around theroll l5 and the drum II, then over the roll i8 from which the sheet 11passes to a roll 20a which forms one of-a series of l5 and thedrum l1,said roll and drum, or one or the other being driven eitherintermittently at the same rate of travel as the belts 5. orcontinuously to draw the strips or sheets a: and 1 off of the rolls xi,yl respectively, for feeding thereof to the rolls 20 and 200. at thereceiving 'end 2| of the platform or table 4. Preferably the drum I1 iscontinuously driven to avoid shock by starting and stopping the rotationof the heavy rolls 2!, yi; and in order to keep a constant supply of thestrips :r, g, the speed of the drum I1 is controlled, with respect tothe intermittent 'movemrnts of thestrips or sheets 2:, 1 in such amanner as to provide loops :2, 112

between the drum l1 and the rolls 29 and 20a.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1a and-1b, the strip orsheet 1; passes from a roll 28, near the delivery end 22 of the table 4,under a pair of rolls 29 and 39 which extend transversely of the machineA at opposite sides of the last of the series of vertically reciprocableheads of the machine, such as the heads which respectively carry theprinting block I, and which is indicated at 3| in Fig. 1b.

As shown in Fig. 1b, and in the enlargement thereof Fig. 7, the rolls 29and 39 are so positioned with respect to the printing table I, that theportion 113 of the strip or sheet 11, which extends from the roller 29to the roller 30, is held in superposed vertically spaced parallel.relation a to the corresponding portion of the strip or sheet a: whichis passing along the' table 4 and in such close relation thereto as toprovide a very small amount of clearance or space 32 between the stripportion 3 and the upper sur face of the aggregated coating or layer ofviscous pigment 2: which has been successively and periby printingsurfaces ll of the odically deposited and built up on the sheet or stripa: by the individual deposits applied thereto various printing blocks!respectively.

The block 3|, which for the purpose of distinguishing from-the printingblocks I, will be hereinafter referred to as the transfer head";

receives vertical reciprocation at the same time as and together withthe printing blocks 1, whereupon the, under surface 23 of the block 3|is caused to engage the upper surface of theportion 113 ofthe strip orsheet 1!; and to press the portion 113, which lies directly below thehead 3|, downwardly -until the lower, surface of the strip portion 113makes a substantially uniform flat contact with the upper surface of thedesign coating .2 previously deposited on the upper surface of the strip3:.

The viscous nature of the pigments. and the condition ofthe surface ofthe strip 3] are such that the momentary contact causes the uppersurface of the ag egated coating 2 to adhere firmly to the under surfaceof the strip 11, to the same degree substantially as the deposited layersis adhering to the upper surface ."of the strip iii the deposit, andwhich is shown at 2|, adhering rolls 21 disposed above the highest pointof elevato the sheet or strip a: while the second half 22 adheres to thestrip or sheet 11. The efiect obtained is that the designpreviouslypri'nted on the strip or sheet x is transferred identically tothe strip or sheet 3/. y

In order tomake the design coatings a! and 22 of sumcient thickness toprovide a. substan- 1 tially wearing surface on the strips and 3respectively, the deposits of .the viscous pigments applied by theprinting blocks l, are preferably heavier than would'normally be appliedto a single sheet, when that single sheet constitutes the sole finishedproduct as in the normal man- '"her of producing these products prior.to the present invention.

In order to prevent any relative lateral, longitudinal or otherhorizontal movement between the strips or sheets a: and '31,- during thetransfer.

operation, both strips :12 and y are secured together against relativehorizontal movement by the pins 6 of the conveying tapes or belts 5penetrating both strips or sheets a: and 1!, which, while preventingrelative horizontal movement between the two sheets, will allow for therelative vertical movement between the'sheets necessary for effectingthe transfer. V I a In order to prevent the second or top strip orsheet. 1 from sagging between the rolls 29 and, the portion 113 of theupper superposed strip 1/ is held under tension.

As a result of the 'pins 6 passing through both the lower strip a: andthe superposed strip 11,

between the rolls 29 and 30, the movement of the strip :c by the belts 5produces an identical movement of the'superposed strip 11,, thusrelative movement between the two isprevented and absolute indexing ofthe successive transfers be-. low the head 3| is assured; and at thesame time the sheet 3 is maintained under tension between the rolls 29and 30. Furthermore, tension on the strip 11 is 'maintained by theweight of the lengthcf that portion of the strip extending from the druml'l, through the loopy2 and over the, rolls 20a, 21 Y and 29, to theroller 29.

The tension beyond the 1'oll30 is maintained by pins 35 carried by belts36, 39 disposed at opposite sides of the sheet 1 as shown in Fig. 5, g

which draw the strip 11 from the transfer point \on the roll 30 anddeliver the strip to a cutting table 23mwhich is disposed' adjacent .thecutting table 22 over whichthe lower sheet :tis

delivered'by the belts 5, 5.

The cutting 'table 23a is provided, with a re- 1 ciprocating knifecorresponding to the knife 24 of the table 22. 4

As a result of the abovenoted arrangement, in

.place of one strip 'being' delivered from the cutting table 23 to thedrying oven B, a pair of identical strips or sheets are simultaneouslydelivere'd} to different compartments respectively ofthe' drying oven. vI

Inorder to deliver the strip or sheet :1; to the oven B, -with thedesignface thereof uppermost, it is necessary toreverse or invert thestrip 3/.As shown in Fig. 5 the top strip or sheet 1/, after passing around theroll, passes upwardly and around aroller 49, from which the strip orsheet 1! passes backwardly. over the machine A,

opposite direction to the strip :2. In order to v76 i. e. in a reversedirection to that in'. which feed the strips 2: and 1/ into the dryersimultanement 42. This brings the design face up and again reverses thedirection of movement of the strip 1 to correspond to the direction ofmoveparallel laterally spaced relation to each other for feeding intothe drying oven.

If desired the elements 4i and 42 may be in the form of rollers drivenat a peripheral speed equal to or slightly greater than the normallinear speed of the strips .1: and 1 in passing through the printingmachine A, as shown in Fig. 5, or the rollersmay be mere idlers. Anysuitable form of .drive may be employed for rotating the rollers 4t and42.

The rollers 4i and 42 are rotatably mounted in bearings 44 carried byand adiustably secured to beams 42 in the present instance. However, asshown in Fig. 14 the elements and 42 may be in the form of rigid barsadjustably secured to the beams 42 by clamps or other securing means. Ineither case the two turnover elements 4| and 42 are mounted on the beams42 in such a manner that they may be moved closer together or furtherapart, as desired.

As previously noted, the strip a: is advanced step by step by the belts5 and pins 6 thereon. The strip 1! is correspondingly advanced by saidbelts and pins as previously noted. In some instances it may bedesirable to advance the strips :1: and 1! simultaneously andintermittently .5 at thedelivery end 22 of the table 4, by a 1connecting shaft 4|. Under such circumstances the sheet 11 between therollers 2| and 40 would move ina straight vertical line from the roller3| to roller 4|, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 5.

At other times it may be'desirable to take of! the strip 1! in' acontinuous uninten'upted movement, in which case the connection 4|,above referred to, is eliminated and a separate continuous drive of anysuitable form, such as an independent motor with a variable speedconnectiorrto the shaft 45 may be employed. In order to compensate forthe differences of condi- ---tions arising from the intermittentmovement of the sheet u up to the roller II and the continuous movementof the sheet beyond the roll 4|, a slack takeup mechanism shown in Figs.1b and 5 is provided. This mechanism comprises a roller 5| which engagesthe strip 1! interme diate the rolls 2| and 4| and which is freelyrotatably mounted at the outer end of a swing frame 5|. r

The frame'il, as shownv in 1b, is pivotally mounted in the presentinstance on the axis of the roller 2|. A spring 52 tends at all times toswing the frame ii and the roller 8| to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1b,to provide a tensioned loop 52 in the sheet 1!. As the sheet 1/ advancesintemiittently from the roll 2|, with the roll 40, for example, movingat a lower'rate of speed than the sheet receives during eachintermittent movement thereof, the spring 52, swinging the frame 5i andthe roller about the axis of the roll 3|, takes up any slack which wouldotherwise develop in the strip 1!, between rolls 30 and 4|. Then, duringthe rest period between the intermittent movements of the sheet or strip1 at the roll 2|, the roll 4|, revolving at a constant rate-of speed,continuously pulls the strip 1! and causes the loop |2to be reduced,whereby the roller III is swung in an opposite direction against theaction of the spring 52 and the tension of the strip 1 is therebymaintained constant during the conversion of the intermittent movementofthe strip into a constant movement thereof.

The strip 1!, as it approaches the upper drum 4! around which the belts26 pass, is pressed down onto the driving points or pins 25 by a pair ofgrooved face rollers 52 rotatably mounted adjacent the drum or sprockets4|, as clearly shown in 5. Thestrip 11 is strippedfrom the pins 25 atthe lower end of the bands or belts 3| by the strip 1'! moving over thetable 22:: at an angle to the plane in which the strip is held on J thebands or belts 2|.

delivery end 22 thereof as shown in Fig. lb. This incline may extendcompletely across the table or be arranged merely at the edges of thetable and form a bridge directly above the sprockets or drums l| aboutwhich the belts 8 pass, whereby the strip :1: is lifted oil. the pins ofsaid belts.

At times it may be desirable to feed the lower strip a: continuouslyinto the drying oven 3, at the same time as the strip 11 is being fedcontinuously to the dryer. In'this case, as shown in Fig. 11, the table22 may be completely dis-'-' connected from the frame I of the printingma-- chine and the framework 5|, which supports the table 23, may beprovided with supports for a roller 8| over which the strip 1: passesfrom the delivery end 22 of the table 4. the feeds being so regulatedthat a loop N is at all times maintained between the delivery end 22 ofthe table 4 and the roller 5|, whereby the intermittent movement of thestrip a: from the table 4 may bereadily converted to a continuousmovement over and beyondthe table 22.

It'may also be desirable to effect the transfer of the pattern from theprimary printed sheet or strip a: to, the second sheet or strip 11 as acontinuously rotary operation, in which case a second roll may beprovided directly above the roll 5| with the two rolls coupled togetherand driven by-any suitable means at the same peripheral speeds; thepositioning of the roller with respect to the roller 5| being such thatthe under surface of the strip 1!, at the bite between the aiaaese strip1 is lowered into. contact with the upper surface of the strip 1! andthen substantially equal splitting of the coating as the two stripsadvance beyond the rolls i8 and ",leaving substantially one half (zl) ofthe coating on the strip a: and the second half (22) of the coating onthe strip 1!, thepattem previously provlded'by the J deposited pigmentforming the printed coating 2 being duplicated in toto on thetwo stripsa; and 1! respectively.

As shown in Hg. 12, the transfer may be made by intermittently rotatingthe rollers 58 and, in which case the roller 58 merely'raises ,the lowerstrip a: slightly above the surface of the table 4' able form oftransmission mechanism, for example,.with variable speed control so thatthe rotation of the rolls 58 and 60 may be synchronized with the'linearmovement of the bands 5, accurately, to prevent differential movementstherebetween, which would result in destroying the perfect transfer ofthe pattern from the sheet or strip a: to the sheet or strip 11.

As shown in Flg.'13 the roll as may be sup- I planted by'a platen 6|which may be adjusted vertically through an opening 62 formed in thetable 4 immediately below the transfer roller 60.

In order .to effect proper aligning of the strip engaging surfaceof theroll 60 with the strip supporting surface of the platen 6|, said platenis supported by an elevator 63. which may be supported by jack screws,wedges or other adjusting mechanism, in any suitable manner, on

and relative to the framework I of the machine A.

Delicate aligning of the slfifaces may be accomplished by theprovisionof shims 64 inserted at desirable or necessary points between theadjusting elevator 63 and the platen plate 6|,

whereby the splitting of the printed coating z,

into two' portions of substantially equal thickneases throughout asillustrated at 2i and 22, may be accomplished. For the same purpose, i.e. for securing accurate aligning of the web or strip supportingsurfaces, shims 65 may be provided between the block 3i of the transferhead shown in Fig. 7 and the vertically reciprocating frame block 3|.

In alike manner an adjustable portion 66 may be provided in the table Idirectly under the block II and provided with a more or less resilientpad 61 over which the strip a: is moved by the bands and which producesa cushioning eifect during the pressing 'of the upper strip 11 intocontact with the upper surface of the printed be desirable to cut the.printing blocks slightly undersize around the marginal edges of each ofthe serious portions of the design respectively deposited on-the'stripa: by the various printing blocks 1, leaving, as clearly shownin Figure8,

'a space 23 between the edges of each ofthe adjacent portions 24 of thedesign. Then as the.

which carries and operates the contact of demarsurface of the aggregatedeposit on the strip a:, I

. and as pressure is applied in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 9 bythe printing head block 3| the 'various independent deposits 24 arecaused to spread until the marginal edges of the parts zl make contactand thereby form clean cut lines,

as illustrated at 25 in Fig. 9. Then, asthe strips a: andy areseparated, as shown in Fig. 10, the I half portions zl and z! of theprinted coating 2 break clean. and provide clean cut lines ofdemarcation between various elements of the completed design on each ofthe strips 2: and 11 respectively.

Such procedure is more particularly desirable in the; making of blockdesigns and is not par ticularly necessary in the printing of foliage orsimilar designs where sharp lines of demarcation are not essential.However,.-in other instances where block or tile designs are formed. andlines of division between adjacent blocks, composed of a color differentfrom that of-either series of blocks, are to be included in the design,a'pigment forming such lines may be deposited separately as a last stepin the completion of the printed'design andwould cover the edges of theblocks previously deposited and thus provide the clean cut lines ofdemarcation, representing, for example, mortar lines between blocksrepresenting tile.

In other instances the deposits forming the mortar lines may bedeposited i'n'the spaces 23 shown in Fig. 8 to complete the entiredesign surface, with all parts in actual abutting relation to each otherbefore the transfer .of Figs. 9 and 10 is begun. I r In some instancesit may be desirable to employ a transfer element intermediate the strips4: and 1; for picking up a portion of the thickness of printed coatingin toto, corresponding to the portion a2, from the coating 2 applied tothe printed sheet or strip a: and carrying such portion from the stripa: to'the strip y, at a point remote from the strip :2, as shown in Fig.18,

wherein-a transfer drum I0 is employedforthe purpose.

the strip 11, would be mounted on a truck ll adjustable on rails 12transversely withrespect to the machine, beyond'the delivery end 22 ofthe table 4. In this case the uprights 51 of the framework 56, whichsupport the cutting table 23, would be extended to support the transferroll 10 and the roll 60, about which the sheet or strip 11 passes, indefinite relationship to each other and properly adjusted to effect thepicking up of the one half of the coating 2 by-the drum Ill from thestrips: and depositing the same in toto on the strip u'passing aroundthe roll 60.

The cutting table 2311., for the strip-1!, would likewise be supportedin this case in superposed relation to the table 23 for the strip at,directly above the table 23, the whole structure being movabletransversely. with the frame I of the printing machine A on the railsdisclosed in '11 the full length of the printing machine A, in

superposed relation thereto, as disclosed in Figs. la and 1b.

Fig. 18. The truck II in this case would be mov- 1 able relative to theframe 56' in order to replen- In place of the driving belts 3i, fcr'thestrip 1!, as shown in Fig. 5, the strip 11 may be advanced eitherintermittently or continuously by means of a vacuum or suction'roll' I5,shown in Figs. 14 and 15, said roll comprising a perforated drum aroundwhich, throughout any suitable segment of its periphery, the strip 1!passes.

form of vacuum or evacuator pump 18, with the pipe ll connected to oneend of the hollow axle II.

The opposite end of the axle 'll may be closed.

. as illustrated at 80, and function as a solid trunof horizontalshelves l5.

nion for the roll II, for providing support for said end of the drum andto which power may be applied for rotating the drum from any suitablesource of power. In other instances the closed end of the hollow shaft'I'I may be rigidly supported against rotation in suitable bearings andpower applied from a suitable source to a gear wheel 8| mounted on oneend of the drum II and providing rotation of the drum I5 around andrelative to the shaft II.

The dryer B, as noted abovepis'divided into a plurality of compartments25a, 25b, and 250 and each compartment is provided with a plurality Forexample, each compartmentmay contain eighty shelves with each shelfadapted to accommodate a complete strip of finished floor coveringwhich, as noted above, in commercial practice are each eighty feet long.However, these numbers and measurements are immaterial insofar as theinvention is concerned. Also, the dryer may include any number ofcompartments. I

As noted above, in normal Practice the printing machine is aligned firstwith-one compartment and the individual strips or sheets are drawnfromthe cutting table 23 and fed onto the shelves 85 of the dryer 3until the one compartment is completely loaded, after which the wholemachine is moved laterally into alignment with the next compartment forloading the same while drying is being effected in the previously loadedcompartment.

PIhe machine is moved relative to the dryer for the loading of each ofthe successive compartments and after the drying is completed in thefirst loaded compartment 'thedried strips are removed therefrom, leavingthe compartment vacant for reloading after the last of the compartmentsof the dryer has been filled with freshly printed strips. whereupon themachine is moved back into line with the emptied compartment for arepeat of the operations.

Where two sheets are provided by a single printing operation, inaccordance with the present invention the loading of the gompartments ismodified. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the f x A and the cuttingtable 23- for the strip fare aligned ,with the compartment 254:. Withthe machine A and the cutting tables arranged in this manner thecompartments 25c and 25b will be simultaneously loaded to half thecapacity thereof. For example, forty strips a: will be run intocompartment 25a, 'while forty strips 11 will be run into compartment25b. The table 2311s then shifted into line with compartment 250 whilethe table 23 remains in line with the compartment 25a. Forty more strips:1: are then partment 25b, as shown in Fig. 4.

run into the compartment 25a while forty strips 1! are simultaneously;being run into compartment 25c, as shown in Fig. 3. The table 23a forthe strips 1! is permitted to stand in line with the compartment 250while the printing machine A and the table 23 are shifted from alignmentwith the compartment 250 into alignment with com- Forty strips :0 arethen run into compartment 25b while forty additional strips are run intocompartment 25c, thereby completing the loading of the dryis required orif slower drying is desired the capacity of the dryer may be multipliedto any desired extent, to keep pace with the printing, and the machineand other equipment may be moved into line with compartments thereofaccordingly.

Any suitable means may be provided for drawing the strips .1: and 1!into the dryer B, for example, a cable 82 connected to a power drivendrum 83 carried by a laterally shiftable truck 84 may be threadedthrough the spaces 86 between the shelves 85 and connected, by suitableclamps 81, to the'strips :cand 11 as the case may be, whereby powerapplied to the motor 88, which drives the drum 83', will effect drawingof the strips longitudinally of the dryer and the deposit thereof on theshelves 85.

In other instances the sheetjl. as shown in Fig. 16, may be hung infestoons over poles" prior to being drawn into the dryer B, therebyeliminating the necessity for the reversing mechanisms of Figs. 5 and14. in which case the strip 11 after receiving the transfer is drawnbackwardly with its printed side upwardly across the poles 90 and hungin festoons therebetween, as shown in Fig. 16 or permitted to lie flatlyover the poles or over slats extending from pole to pole as shown inFig. 17, until the full length of a strip has been completed, whereuponthe cable 82 may be connected to the one end of the strip 11 and thestrip drawn in a reverse direction overthe poles 90 and directly intothe drying compartment. In this case, as in Fig. 18, the strips :1: and1; would be superp s d directly above each other, whereupon forty strips:1: and forty strips 1! would be run into the first compartment 15asimultaneously and theentire machine moved intoline with compartment 25bfor loading thereof, and so on;

- Normally the strips 2 and .1: are in excess of nine feet in width toreceive designs nine feet wide and still provide margins forreceivingthe pins 6 of the advancing belts 5 outside the design. In someinstances the designs are continuous throughout the length of the stripsand in other instances the designs are arranged to provide rugs of ninefeet in width and three, six, nine or twelve feet etc. in length.

In some instances, both strips may be of lesser width, i. e. instead ofbeing nine feet in width they may be only six feet in width. Theconventional machine A described above, is normally adapted toaccommodate strips of' varying widths, and for this purpose one or bothof the drive bolts 5-, i and their drums I, are shiftable laterally withrespect to the table 4, as is common in machines of this type,

As shown in Figs. 5 and6, t e strip 1!. between the drive belts 38, 36is supported by a slatted or other platform 9| This platform is madewith a removable center portion 92 whereby the platform may be reducedin width from nine to six feet, for example. Likewise the shafts whichsupport the sprockets or drums which drive and support the belts 36, 36are of a three-part telescopic form with the two ends keyed to the drumrespectively and with sleeve sections 93 splined to the two end sectionsso that the drums and their respective shaft sections may be movedtoward and away from each other as shown in i Fig. 6.

I claim:

1. The method of producing hard surface floor thickness of said facecoating in toto onto one face of a second prepared base sheet, wherebyduplicate finished floor coverings are produced by a single depositionof the facing material on but one of said base sheets.

2. The method of producing 'hard'surface fioor coverings which consistsin printing a design on one face of one prepared base sheet in the formof a viscous coating of predetermined thickness, and subsequentlytransferring a portion of said thickness of said coating in toto ontoone face of a second prepared base sheet, whereby said design isduplicated in toto on both'basesheets as a result of a single printingof said design on but one of said base sheets, said design on saidsecond sheet being in reversed position with respect to the design onthe first mentioned sheet.

3. The method of producing hard surface fioor coverings which consistsin printing a design on one face of one prepared base sheet in the formof a viscous coating of predetermined thickness as an aggregation of aplurality of design parts respectively disposed in laterally adjacentrelation to each other, and subsequently transferring a portion of saidthickness of said coating in toto.

onto one face of a second prepared base sheet,

whereby said aggregative design is duplicated in toto on both basesheets as a result of a'single printing of said design on but one ofsaid base sheets, said design on said second sheet beingin reversedposition with respect to the design on the first mentioned sheet.

4. The method of producing hard surface fioor coveringswhich consistsinprinting a design on one face of one prepared base sheet in the form ofa viscous coating of predetermined thickness as an aggregation of aplurality of design parts respectively disposed in laterally adjacentspaced relation to each other, subsequently spreading said parts intoabutting relationship to each other and transferring a portion of saidthickness of said coating in toto onto one face of a second preparedbase sheet by first pressing said second sheet firmly against theexposed common planar surfaces of the parts of the design originallyprinted on the first of said sheets, subsequently splitting the coatingintermediate the two sheets, and separatingthe split coating and thesheets to which the respective portions of the coating adhere, wherebysaid aggregative design is duplicated in toto on both base. sheets as aresult of a single printing of said design on but:

- one of said base sheets, said design on said seccoverings whichconsists in printing a design on one face-of one prepared base sheet inthe form of a viscous coating of predetermined thickness, bringing onesurface of a second prepared, base shejet into intimate contact with theexposed surface of the printed coating on the first said sheet,splitting the coating intermediate said sheets, and separating saidsheets with the divided portions of the thickness of said coatingadhering to said sheetsrespectively, whereby the design originallyprinted on the first sheet is transferred in toto onto the second sheetand two duplicate finished floor coverings are produced from a singleprint ing of the design on but one of said base sheets, said design onsaid second sheet being in reversed position with respect to the designon the first mentioned sheet;

6. The method of producing hard surface floor coverings which consistsin printing a. design on one face of one prepared base sheet in the formof a viscous coating of predetermined thickness, bringing one surface ofa second prepared base sheet into intimate fiat contact with the exposedsurface of the printed coating on the first said sheets, splitting thecoating intermediate said sheets, and separating said sheets with thedivided portions of the thickness of said coating adhering to saidsheets respectively, whereby the design originally printed on the firstsheet is transferred in toto onto the second sheet and two duplicatefinished iioorcoverings are produced from a single printing of thedesign on but one of said base sheets, said design on said second sheetbeing in reversed position with respect to the design on the firstmentioned sheet.

7. The method of producing hard surface floor coverings which consistsin printing a design on one face of one prepared base sheet 'in the formof a viscous coating of predetermined thickness, bringing one surface ofa second prepared base sheet into intimate rolling contact with theexposed surface of the. printed coating on the first said sheets,splitting the coating intermediate said sheets, and separating saidsheets with the divided portions of the thickness of said coatingadhering to said sheets respectively, whereby the design originallyprinted on the first sheet is transferred in toto onto the second sheetand two duplicate finished floor coverings are pro-, duced from a singleprinting of the design on but one of said base sheets, said design onsaid second sheet being in reversed position with respect to the designon thefirst mentioned sheet.

8. The method of producing hard surface floor coverings which consistsin printing a design on one face of one prepared base sheet in the formof a viscous coating of predetermined thickness, transferring aportion'of Said'thickness of said coating in toto onto an elementcomplementary to said base sheet and subsequently retransferring saidtransferred designin toto onto one face of a second prepared base sheet,whereby two duplicate finished floor coverings are produced from asingle printing of the design on but one of saidbase sheets,said design.on said second sheet being in reversed position with respect to thedesign on the first mentioned sheet.

of a viscous coating of predetermined thickness,

subsequently transferring a portion of said thickness of said coating intoto onto one face of a second prepared base sheet, whereby said designis duplicated .in toto on both base sheets as a result of a singleprinting of said design on but one of said base sheets, said design onsaid second sheet being in reversed position with respect to the designon the first mentioned sheet, and feeding said two finished floorcoverings simultaneously in spaced relation to each other into a dryingchamber for setting the divided coating portions respectively adheringto the two base sheets.

10. The method of producing hard surface floor coverings which consistsin printing a design on one face of one prepared base sheet in the formof a viscous coating of predetermined thickness, subsequentlytransferring a portion of said thickness of said coating in toto ontoone face of a second prepared base sheet, whereby said design isduplicated in toto on both base sheets as a result of a single printingof said design on but one of said base sheets, said design on saidsecond sheet being in reversed position with respect to the design onthe first mentioned sheet, and reversing the position of the second ofsaid floor coverings relative to the first thereof after said transferto bring the transferred coating uppermostfor drying of the same withthe floor covering supported from below. 11. The method of producinghard surface floor coverings which consists in printing a design on oneface of one prepared'base sheet in the form of a viscous coating ofpredetermined thickness, subsequently transferring a portion of saidthickness of said coating in toto onto one face of a second preparedbase sheet, whereby said design is duplicated in toto on both basesheets as a result of asingle printing of said design on but one of saidbase sheets, said design on said second sheet being in reversed positionwith respect to the design on the first mentioned sheet, reversing theposition of the second of said floor coverings relative to the' firstthereof aftervsaid transfer to bring the transferred coating uppermostfor drying of the same with the floor covering support-ed from below,and feeding the two finished fioor coverings simultaneously into a dryerfor setting the divided portions of the coating respectively adhering tosaid base sheets.

12. The method of producing hard surface floor coverings which consistsin printing a design on one face' of one prepared'base sheet in the formof a viscous coating of predetermined thickness,

subsequently transferring a portion of said thickresult ,of' a singleprinting of said design on but one of said base sheets, said design onsaid second sheet being in reversed position with respect to the designon the first mentioned sheet, reversing the position of the second floorcovering relative to the first and feeding the two in laterally spacedrelation to each other into a drying chamber for setting the dividedcoating portions respectively adhering to the two base sheets.

13. The method of producing hard surface fioor coverings which consistsin printing a design on one face of one prepared base sheet in the formof a viscous coating of predetermined thickness, subsequentlytransferring a portion of a said thickness of said coating in. toto ontoone faceof a second prepared base sheet, whereby said design isduplicated in toto on both base sheets as a result of a single printingof said one face of one prepared base sheet in the form of a viscouscoating of predetermined thickness,

subsequently transferring a portion of said thickness of said coating intoto onto one face of a second preparedbase sheet, whereby said designis duplicated in toto on both base sheets'as a result of a singleprinting of said design 'on but one of said base sheets, said design onsaid second sheet being in reversed position with respect' to the designon the first mentioned sheet, reversing the position of the second floorcovering relative to the first, feeding the two in laterally spacedrelation to each other into difierent laterally spaced dryingcompartments to set the divided coating portions respectively adheringto the two base sheets, and shifting the relative lateral positions ofthe two finished floor coverings for feed* ing the sheets intopredetermined drying compartments respectively of a series thereof.

NEIL L. CAMPBELL.

